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Send us your skeletons

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You can play a key part in WA fisheries science by donating your fish skeletons to help with our long-term monitoring program of fish stocks.

Also known as 'frames', filleted skeletons, with the heads and guts intact, are essential for us to be able to assess the status of our fish resources. By analysing data from the frames we can make science-based decisions to sustainably manage our fisheries.

By donating your frames before July 1, you could also win a number of prizes thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

To find out the latest on what is happening with the 'Send Us Your Skeletons' program and how your data contributes to science, see the Research Angler Program Newsletter No. 37 December 2017. An informative history of Send Us Your Skeletons is also available.

More information on how finfish stocks are assessed is available on this website.

To donate your frames:

label them with your name and address (so we can send you research feedback);

the date of your capture; and

the location of your capture (in the case of a shore catch, the general location; in the case of a boat catch, the latitude/longitude or distance and bearing from port and the name of the port).

Note information you provide about the location of your catch is confidential.

We need frames for the following species from the areas in the map below.

Demersal species - West Coast Bioregion

In the West Coast Bioregion we are currently monitoring these demersal species: West Australian dhufish, snapper, baldchin groper, Bight redfish and red throat emperor. We need to know if significant management changes put in place a few years ago are helping stocks to recover.

Nearshore species - West Coast and South Coast Bioregions

In the West and South Coast Bioregions, we are monitoring Australian herring, tailor and King George whiting stocks. It's important we monitor these 'bread and butter' species, given their importance to shore and boat-based fishers alike. Herring stocks are also in a recovery phase after recent management changes.

Disclaimer

The information and advice provided by the Department of Fisheries website is made in good faith and is from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of release onto the website. Changes in circumstances after a document is placed on the website may affect the accuracy of the information. Full disclaimer details are available at www.fish.wa.gov.au.